October 25, 2004 First Glance Review
"Out of the Forest" By Howard Swains, London Times.
One of the horrors of the holocaust is that it remains such an inexhaustible seam of tragedy.
Unheard of attrocities continue to be revealed with each new book or film.
Out of the Forest is a suitably passionate documentary by Limor Pinhasov, Ben Yosef and Yaron Kaftori,
an Israeli trio who visited Polnar, a small village in Lithuania, outside of which some 100,000 people
were shot and their bodies left in massive woodland pits.
Uniquely, however, the prime focus is not those who died but those who watched,
the villagers of Polnar, who for three years continued their daily lives to the soundtrack
of relentless machine-gun fire coming out of the nearby forest. It soon emerges that these
bystanders were not quite as innocent as some would like us to believe: the murders were
reportedly carried out by Lithuanian soldiers on the Nazi payroll, and a profitable market
economy developed dealing in the clothing and personal effects of the dead.
The issue remains a divisive one in Polnar and the incredulity of the filmmakers is
apparent as they hear denial after denial among the elderly villagers, some even
casting doubt on the veracity of the film's source document, the diary of Kazimierz Sakowicz,
an amateur journalist who recorded what he saw and heard occurring within a few hundred
yards of his home.The refrain among those who display even a shred of remorse-and
there are some, remarkably, who show none at all-is the shameless plea: "What could we do?"
But the filmmakers also uncover small acts of heroism to counter these claims of helplessness,
branding the passive witnesses with shared culpability for the crimes.
The film struggles to remain non-judgemental, most notably in the case of one interviewee who
seems to regard the killing fields as little more than a fertile land for growing potatoes,
but the slight lapse in impartiality is only to be expected.
Out of the Forest is an astonishing film and should take
a prominent place in the ever-growing catalogue of holocaust documentary.
"A documentary with enormous cinematographic power…
An anthropological description of the life beside a mass murder factory…
The film’s strength structured by its restrained approach, similar in some
merits to the work of Claude Lanzmann,…
The silence of the after shock, exposes the full dramatic power".
Berliner Zeitung
"Restrained on one hand, and pungent on the other, the film brings
a rare story of the Holocaust that we have yet to hear".
Der Tagesspiegel. (Berlin)
"Not an historical document, but a psychological one, which expresses the
wondrous ability of man, to repress his part in the exploitation,
and his indifference to other human life".
Frankfurter Allgemaine
"The murderers are always the others, that is the sad and painful
conclusion of this beautiful and emotional film".
Berlin Morgenpresse
“The camera drifts over the silent landscapes, that have not changed over the years, and tells a hypnotizing story of human nature, merciless and without empathy”.
Radio Berlin
“The film “Out of the Forest” is not a blind indictment of Lithuanians. Even the people who have the most defensive attitudes in the film are amazed to learn about the actions of their parents and relatives during the years of the holocaust. “Out of the Forest” is a quiet and sad film that presents, in the clearest way possible, the perspectives of different nationalities regarding events that we should never forget”
Lietuvaos Rito (Lithuania press)
"The best film in years made on the holocaust. A monumental work.
One of its great merits is that its focus is on only one place, where the
actual story did happen. In a cinematographic style that could be compared
to the work of Claude Lanzmann, and without sentimental provocations,
the film makers present us a creation that grows and develops as it progresses...
One of the rare documentaries, that should be presented in theatres on the big screen".
“Haaretz" (Israel press)
**** (4 stars out of 5). An amazing film. Amust see!!!
Yediot Hachronot. Israel daily.
“A chilling human document - even for someone who thinks he’s seen and heard it all. “Out of the Forest” compels viewers to ask themselves how they would react in the same situation. And in fact, what do we do when we witness our neighbors suffering?”
Hatzsofe (Israel press)
“Out of the Forest” is a quiet powerful and chilling film. It leaves viewers stunned. This film offers the clearest, most unsettling image of indifferent normality, that I can remember.
In terms of Jewish symbolism only a blossoming tamarisk is missing. Draw your own conclusions.
TimeOut Tel-Aviv (Israel press)
**** (4 stars out of 5) Unforgettable.
Maariv, Israel daily.
“The greatness of the film comes from the original, restrained approach the filmmakers use in dealing with the subject matter. The film does not rely on melodrama or clichés from the past.
It is a film about the evils of human indifference and the tragic consequences of silence. In this respect “Out of the Forest” is a timely film addressing issues of important contemporary significance.”
Walla (Israel leading website)
“The impact of this film is very powerful. The tone of the film is restrained; there is no animosity or hatred. Instead it conveys an insidious sense of resignation- a dispassionate acceptance of a dark and
terrible past. What is most inconceivable and horrifying is the absence of regret. You witness it but you can’t believe it.”
Voice of Israel (Israel radio)
**** (4 stars out of 5) “Strong. Restrained. Free of emotional manipulation and kitsch. Interesting. Beautifully filmed.”
Pnai Plus (Tv and cinema magazine)
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